BILL NUMBER:  SB 538
  VETOED	DATE: 10/09/2011




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 538 without my signature.

The Board of Registered Nursing protects consumers and regulates
professional nursing in California and this measure would extend the
existence of this longstanding regulatory body until 2016.
Unfortunately, extraneous harmful provisions lurk within this
otherwise benign sunset extension bill.

These provisions would dramatically expand pension benefits for a
select group of the Board's investigators. This makes no sense
fiscally and flies in the face of much needed pension reform.

It is unacceptable to jeopardize the extension of this Board's
critical consumer protection role by allowing these provisions to be
included in this otherwise simple sunset extension measure. The Board
has existed for 106 years without these enhanced benefits and should
continue to do so.

I would ask that as soon as it reconvenes, the Legislature send me
legislation that both restores the Board of Registered Nursing and
restores the provisions of law relating to "bureau status" for
expired boards. In the interim, I direct my administration to take
all actions necessary under the law to protect consumers and nurses
alike until the Board is reconstituted in January.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.